The only thing growing faster than the $65 billion diet industry is the American waistline. If one of your New Years resolutions was to Go on a Diet, the only place I guarantee you will go....is up in weight.
It's a Fact - Diets will only make you fatter.
When it comes to the latest in Diet fads, we are quite gullible and easily tempted by a Diet's empty promised. Reason being....the diet industry KNOWS we are in search of the "quick fix" and will only play with our emotions - our desperation for the quickest way to relieve looking and feeling fat.
Diets are nothing more than Temporary Solutions with many lingering, negative side effects.
Here are the Top 10 Reasons Why you should NOT "go" on a Diet
1. Diets do NOT work.
Diets have a 99% Failure Rate. Have you noticed a pattern yet? Lose weight....quickly regain it? Over time, studies show if you diet you are more likely to be overweight than people who eat normally and make small gradual changes to their lifestyle. No, the Law of Averages does not apply to this faulty system.
2. Dieting can be Dangerous.
Any time you severely restrict the amount or types of foods you eat you put your health and life at risk. Dieting has been related to injuries and sudden deaths from electrolyte imbalance, malnutrition, and heart arrhythmia's. Weight cycling, or yo-yo-ing weight, is associated with higher death rates - especially if some type of pills are being used. At no point should you ever place weight loss above your health.
3. Dieting Destroys your Metabolism.
Diets will cause your weight to quickly cycle up and down. Sure, you may lose weight quickly because you are simply not eating enough. In the initial stages, the first seven to nine pounds lost are water, presenting a real danger of dehydration and mineral deficiencies. Even more terrifying ins the break down of lean muscle due to inefficient nutrients and calories. If you are losing more than 3-4 pounds a week, you can be sure this is what is happening - very little fat is lost this state.
Now, any muscle loss will cause your metabolism slow to a crawl. The cumulative effect takes place for you cannot survive very long on very low calories (1200 or less) and you will eventually eat more - on top of a slower metabolism. All those excess calories will be stored as fat - causing rapid weight gain.
4. Dieting is Exhausting.
Diets are just reduced calorie Fads disguised by a clever gimmick. "Lose weight while you sleep" "Eat all you want and still lose weight" Not eating enough or cutting out certain food groups means your body may not be getting the energy it needs, or may lack certain nutrients. You will feel exhausted, light headed and experience some not-so-fun mood swings.
5. Dieting is Disruptive.
Dieting negatively affects your normal eating patterns. Diets can lead to binge eating, overeating and chaotic eating. When you diet, it is common to override your internal signals telling you to eat. You end up trying to use willpower or resist hunger signals and may even go as far as taking appetite suppressants. This results in being unable to know when you really are hungry or wore....when you're full.
6. Dieting can lead to eating disorders.
Experts state that the high rates of eating disorders in the U.S. are due in part to people dieting, losing weight, rebounding, and becoming chronic dieters.
7. Dieting Causes Food Obsessions.
If you spend a large amount of time and energy depriving yourself of food or certain types of food - you will spend more time thinking about food and become obsessed attempts to control your weight by what you choose to eat or not eat. How long do you want to live like this?
8. Dieting Diminishes Women.
There is way too much attention focused on our appearance and an arbitrary number on the scale. In the midst of this focus - we end up avoiding what really matters to us - our dreams and ambitions. Even worse, it erodes our confidence and self-respect.
9. Dieting Intensifies Negativity.
If you diet, you are more judgmental and critical of yourself and others. Once again, wasted time and energy.
10. Diets Put Your Life on Hold.
Does this sound familiar...."I'll be happy when I weigh "x pounds." Guess what, the issues in your life are not related to your weight. Take responsibility and take back control of your life. Decide to be happy now and do what it takes to live a lifestyle that reflects your priorities.
So this year resolve to NOT go on a Diet. Set Yourself Free from this miserable, guaranteed to fail weight loss cycle. Do NOT let the diet industry make money by taking advantage of you. It is time to stand up for yourself and take control.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Role of Zinc supplement in Development of Immune System-Vitamin
Zinc is an essential nutrient that has an important role in the growth and development of many cells, tissues, and the immune system. Zinc is considered a cofactor for over 300 metalloenzymes and one of the symptoms of zinc deficiency is an increased frequency of bacterial and viral infections. The effects of zinc and immune function havebeen well studied. The cellular and molecular effects of zinc on immunity are beyond the scope of this review and the reader is referred to several recent reviews for additional information.
Zinc deficiency may impair nonspecific and specific immune responses. Nonspecific defenses that may be impaired by zinc include NK cytotoxicity, macrophage phagocytosis, neutrophil oxidative burst, and chemotaxis. Other observations include thymic atrophy, decreased DTH, reduction in peripheral T-cell count, decrease in T helper cell and T cytotoxic cell functions, and reduced antibody production. It is apparent that zinc deficiency affects multiple aspects of host immunity and therefore it is not surprising that an increased frequency of infection is observed in deficient individuals. Zinc supplementation of deficient individuals has been shown to reduce the incidence and severity of infection, especially in children.
Although it is clear that malnourished individuals suffer impaired immunity due in part to zinc deficiency, the question of relevance to normal well-nourished healthy individuals is whether zinc supplementation can enhance immunity. Several studies in the elderly have shown that zinc supplementation is associated with an increased number of T cells, improved delayed dermal hypersensitivity, DTH response, and antibody production to tetanus vaccine. The elderly may suffer from mild zinc deficiency and therefore may benefit from supplementation.
Recently, there has been an interest in the potential role of zinc supplementation in reducing the duration of symptoms associated with the common cold. Some studies have demonstrated that zinc gluconate lozenges administered within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms of the common cold reduced the duration of cold symptoms. However, this is not a consistent finding and a recent meta-analysis that reviewed a number of clinical trials concluded that solid evidence for the effectiveness of zinc lozenges in reducing the duration of common colds is lacking.
Immune Effects and Exercise
Many athletes may be tempted to try zinc supplementation while experiencing symptoms of the common cold in the hope that the duration of cold symptoms will be reduced. Short-term supplementation is probably not harmful, however, high-dose zinc supplementation is associated with immunosuppression. It is not known if zinc supplementation can reduce the incidence of infection in healthy well-nourished individuals. Some evidence supports the concept that zinc supplementation may be considered potentially beneficial during episodes of the common cold, in terms of decreased symptoms or duration. However, there is no evidence that zinc can reduce the incidence of the common cold among healthy individuals.
One potential area of consideration for some athletes regarding zinc is the finding that some athletes, particularly endurance athletes, may suffer from mild zinc deficiency This population may be similar to elderly individuals regarding mild zinc deficiency and therefore may benefit from supplementation. However, to our knowledge this possibility has not been tested. Also, keep in mind that the elderly experience an age-associated decline in immune responsiveness and therefore zinc supplementation of younger individuals may not show similar benefits.
One study did compare the postexercise immune response in those individuals who consumed zinc and placebo. The subjects consuming zinc did not experience an exercise-induced increase in neutrophil production of ROS. It is possible that this change may alter exercise�induced tissue damage. It is not clear at this time how the change in neutrophil function may relate to susceptibility to infection or disease outcome. Again, further research is certainly warranted considering that some athletes may experience mild zinc deficiency and adequate zinc intake is essential for optimal immune response and resistance to infection.
Zinc deficiency may impair nonspecific and specific immune responses. Nonspecific defenses that may be impaired by zinc include NK cytotoxicity, macrophage phagocytosis, neutrophil oxidative burst, and chemotaxis. Other observations include thymic atrophy, decreased DTH, reduction in peripheral T-cell count, decrease in T helper cell and T cytotoxic cell functions, and reduced antibody production. It is apparent that zinc deficiency affects multiple aspects of host immunity and therefore it is not surprising that an increased frequency of infection is observed in deficient individuals. Zinc supplementation of deficient individuals has been shown to reduce the incidence and severity of infection, especially in children.
Although it is clear that malnourished individuals suffer impaired immunity due in part to zinc deficiency, the question of relevance to normal well-nourished healthy individuals is whether zinc supplementation can enhance immunity. Several studies in the elderly have shown that zinc supplementation is associated with an increased number of T cells, improved delayed dermal hypersensitivity, DTH response, and antibody production to tetanus vaccine. The elderly may suffer from mild zinc deficiency and therefore may benefit from supplementation.
Recently, there has been an interest in the potential role of zinc supplementation in reducing the duration of symptoms associated with the common cold. Some studies have demonstrated that zinc gluconate lozenges administered within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms of the common cold reduced the duration of cold symptoms. However, this is not a consistent finding and a recent meta-analysis that reviewed a number of clinical trials concluded that solid evidence for the effectiveness of zinc lozenges in reducing the duration of common colds is lacking.
Immune Effects and Exercise
Many athletes may be tempted to try zinc supplementation while experiencing symptoms of the common cold in the hope that the duration of cold symptoms will be reduced. Short-term supplementation is probably not harmful, however, high-dose zinc supplementation is associated with immunosuppression. It is not known if zinc supplementation can reduce the incidence of infection in healthy well-nourished individuals. Some evidence supports the concept that zinc supplementation may be considered potentially beneficial during episodes of the common cold, in terms of decreased symptoms or duration. However, there is no evidence that zinc can reduce the incidence of the common cold among healthy individuals.
One potential area of consideration for some athletes regarding zinc is the finding that some athletes, particularly endurance athletes, may suffer from mild zinc deficiency This population may be similar to elderly individuals regarding mild zinc deficiency and therefore may benefit from supplementation. However, to our knowledge this possibility has not been tested. Also, keep in mind that the elderly experience an age-associated decline in immune responsiveness and therefore zinc supplementation of younger individuals may not show similar benefits.
One study did compare the postexercise immune response in those individuals who consumed zinc and placebo. The subjects consuming zinc did not experience an exercise-induced increase in neutrophil production of ROS. It is possible that this change may alter exercise�induced tissue damage. It is not clear at this time how the change in neutrophil function may relate to susceptibility to infection or disease outcome. Again, further research is certainly warranted considering that some athletes may experience mild zinc deficiency and adequate zinc intake is essential for optimal immune response and resistance to infection.
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